Pianist Daria van den Bercken makes classical music lovers — and those who had no idea that they appreciated this kind of music — listen to classic composers with fresh ears. She has played with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra and the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, and is a regular guest at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. But it’s bringing classic music to unexpected audiences where her passion engages.

While sick with the flu several years ago, Daria discovered the keyboard compositions of George Frideric Handel. She wanted to bring these beautiful works to the masses. With her project ‘Handel at the Piano,’ she played these pieces in unexpected places — even flying with her piano 25-feet over the audience at the Virada Cultural Festival in São Paulo, Brazil. Through a series of concerts, and an album, she asked audiences to rethink Handel.

Daria’s latest project is 'Keys to Mozart,' an effort to breathe new life into Mozart’s piano works. She is preparing to record an album for Sony Classical and will play a series of concerts too.